Attribution: This is a cached copy of a third party project. Many of these sites are from 20 years ago and the majority are no longer running. We show only the first page of the project. We do not save all pages since copyright belongs to the third-party author.
Potential Energy
Potential Energy
LaToya Bennett Robert H. Lawrence
12155 S. Stewart 9928 S. Crandon
Chicago IL 60628 Chicago IL 60617
(312) 821-1968 (312) 535-6320
Objective:
The main objective of this mini teach is to introduce the concept of potential
energy. The students will recognize that potential energy is the ability to do
work. The students will identify the two factors that effect potential energy.
The following activities will demonstrate the effect of height and weight on
potential energy. The activities are designed for the intermediate level.
Materials Needed:
weights wooden blocks tennis ball rubber bands
nails empty spools meter stick
hammer wooden matches string
flat empty can paper clips ruler with center groove
large rock scotch tape scissors
pebble buttons books of various widths
Strategy:
Activity - How does the weight of an object effect its gravitational
potential energy.
1 Lift the pebble and the stone from the floor to the table.
2 Place the flat can on it's side on floor near the table.
3 Predict what will happen the pebble is pushed off the table and hits the can.
4 Predict what will happen when the large stone is pushed off the table and
hits the can.
Activity - The effect height has on the energy of an moving object.
1 Cut an 1 in. square section in the top of a paper cup.
2 Place the cup over the ruler. The end of the ruler should touch the back of
the cup.
3 Raise the opposite end of the ruler and rest it on the pencil.
4 Place the marble in the center groove at the ruler's highest end.
5 Release the marble and observe.
6 Repeat the steps above substituting books of various widths for the pencil.
Activity - The effect weight has on potential energy
1 Attach the string to handle of the pail.
2 Secure the opposite end of the string to the edge of the table. The string
needs to be long enough to allow the pail to swing about one inch above the
floor.
3 Place the paper on the floor under the hanging pail.
4 Position the wooden block on floor in front of the pail.
5 Pull the pail back and allow it to swing into the block. Mark the position
that the block has moved to on the paper.
6 Repeat the steps above adding large pieces of clay to add weight to the
bucket.
Activity - The effect weight has on potential energy
1 Cut a 2 inch square section in the top of a paper cup.
2 Place the cup over the ruler. The end of the ruler should touch the back of
the cup.
3 Raise the opposite end of the ruler and rest it on the book.
4 Place the small marble in the center groove at the ruler's highest end.
5 Release the marble and observe.
6 Repeat the steps above substituting the large marble.
Activity - Height and potential energy
1 Position the 50 gram weight directly over the first nail.
2 Lift the 50 gram weight to six inches as marked on the wooden bar.
3 Release the weight and observe.
4 Repeat the steps above raising the weight to 8 inches, 10 inches and 12
inches * If the first nail is damaged replace.
Activity - Weight and potential energy
1 Position the 20 gram weight directly over the first nail.
2 Lift the 20 gram weight to the top of the wooden bar.
3 Release the weight and observe.
4 Repeat the steps above substituting various weights.
* If the first nail is damaged replace.
As a closing activity the student can make a motorized spool. This allows the
student a hands, on at home, activity. The students will construct the spool
and answer a series of questions. This also serves an evaluative tool.
Activity - The motorized spool
1 Loop the rubber band through two of the holes in the button.
2 Make a small hole in the end of the paper clip and use it to pull the rubber
band through the hole in the spool.
3 Hold the rubber band in place in the spool by inserting a short length of a
Q-tip or a piece of the wooden match through the ends of the band. Use
small pieces of tape to hold the stick in place.
4 Insert a Q-tip or match through the other end of the rubber band, the head of
the match or one end of the Q-tip near the hole, and the other end extending
out beyond the edge of the spool.
5 Using the long end of the stick, wind the rubber band 5 times. Place it on
it's side on a table and let it go. Observe the result.
6 Explain what happened to the spool when it was placed on the table?
7 Why did you have to wind the elastic band?
8 Explain where the energy came from to drive the spool.
9 Wind the spool again 5 times and using the ruler measure how it travels.
10 Predict what will happen if you wind the band 10 times. Test your prediction
by winding the band 10 times and letting it go on the table. Describe the
result of your prediction.
11 Experiment with your motorized spool by measuring the distance it travels
when wound 10, 15, 20 times. Does the spool go twice as far with 20 turns as
it did with 10 turns? Explain why it did or did not.
12 Wind the rubber band 10 times and hold the stick in place with a piece of
tape. Put the spool away until the next day.
13 After storing the spool overnight remove the tape and release the spool on
the table. How far does it go now?
14 How well did the rubber band store energy overnight?
The students will enjoy reporting their results the next day in class.
Each of the activities are designed to show increased height and or increased
weight will increase potential energy.
Return to Physics Index